Mario Balotelli (Italy)
There can be few players in the history of the game for whom the word hothead has been more appropriate. Mario Balotelli, Italy's young forward, has been making headlines all season and, to the ever-increasing dismay of even his most ardent supporters, all too rarely for acts of footballing brilliance. As well as his bizarre off-field antics, including throwing darts at academy players or the infamous firework incident, Balotelli's career has been plagued by ill-discipline on the pitch. He picked up two red cards this season, for the third year in a row, and was perhaps fortunate not to receive more, a stamp on Scott Parker being punished retrospectively and a tackle on Alex Song going unpunished. Also capable of producing moments of sheer genius, Balotelli looks certain to make an impact this summer one way or another.